Podcast Summary: The Herd with Colin Cowherd – Best of The Herd

Episode Information:

• Title: Best of The Herd
• Host/Author: iHeartPodcasts and The Volume
• Release Date: April 24, 2025
• Description: A thought-provoking, opinionated, and topic-driven journey through the top sports stories of the day.

1. Introduction

In this special episode of The Herd with Colin Cowherd, listeners are treated to a comprehensive roundup of the most pressing sports topics. Hosted by Colin Cowherd and featuring co-host Jason McIntyre, the episode delves deep into the NBA playoffs drama, contentious officiating decisions, and an in-depth mock NFL draft analysis. Additionally, guest appearances by sports analyst Joel Klatt provide expert insights, making this episode a must-listen for sports enthusiasts.

2. NBA Playoffs Analysis

Timestamp: [03:00] – [07:16]

The episode kicks off with a heated discussion about the ongoing NBA playoffs, focusing primarily on the Houston Rockets' surprising performance and the implications of key player injuries.

• Jason McIntyre opens the segment by expressing surprise over the Rockets' victory, which defied prior expectations:

  "We thought Houston would win. We said they couldn't play worse. Take Houston yesterday on the show, easy winner, easy winner."
  [03:00]

• Colin Cowherd emphasizes the role of officiating in the playoffs, suggesting that referees are allowing more physical play, which benefits deeper and more athletic teams like Houston:

  "The NBA officials are swallowing the whistle whistles. It is the lowest free throw rate in NBA playoff history."
  [06:00]

• The conversation shifts to the impact of Jimmy Butler's injury on the Warriors' performance. McIntyre argues that without Butler, the Warriors are significantly weakened:

  "Golden State without Jimmy Butler may not win another game in this series."
  [06:30]

• Colin adds that the referees' leniency is disadvantaging the Warriors, who rely heavily on Steph Curry and lack sufficient depth:

  "The Warriors have been reduced to Steph Skirt. Steph Curry scores 40 points. We lose."
  [06:45]

• The segment concludes with a consensus that the current officiating trends are tilting the playoffs in favor of teams with greater depth and athleticism, potentially altering the expected outcomes of the series.

3. DraftKings Sportsbook Promotion

Timestamp: [00:49] – [02:40]

A brief interlude promoting DraftKings as the official sportsbook partner of the NBA playoffs, offering new customers $200 in bonus bets with the code HERD.

4. NFL Draft Mock Draft Analysis

Timestamp: [21:10] – [50:00]

Arguably the centerpiece of the episode, Colin Cowherd and Jason McIntyre engage in an extensive mock NFL draft, predicting the first 15 picks based on team needs, player performances, and league trends.

4.1. Early Draft Picks

• Jason McIntyre predicts Cam Ward as the number one overall pick, praising his fit with the Tennessee Titans:

  "Cam Ward is an easy one. Good fit with Brian Callahan's offense... a major talent upgrade over who the Titans played at quarterback last year."
  [21:10]

• Shadour Sanders, son of Deion Sanders, is forecasted to slide to the 21st pick, landing with the Pittsburgh Steelers:

  "I think it's a very, very weak draft. So if Shador Sanders is falling in the draft... I would rather go to Pittsburgh at 21 than Cleveland or the Giants with a second or third pick."
  [41:00]

4.2. Middle to Late First Round

• Joel Klatt, guest analyst and sports broadcaster, agrees on the potential fall of Shadour Sanders and adds depth to the mock draft:

  "I love Colson Loveland. I have him as my top tight end in the draft."
  [36:19]

• Notable Picks:

  • Travis Hunter to Cleveland
  • Abdul Carter to the New York Giants
  • Will Campbell to the Patriots
  • Mason Graham to the Jaguars
  • Ashton Genti to the Raiders
  • Tyler Warren to the Jets
  • Jaylon Walker to the Panthers
  • Mikel Williams to the Saints
  • Will Johnson to the Bears
  • Kelvin Banks to the 49ers
  • Omario Hampton to the Cowboys
  • Colston Loveland to the Rams
  • Armand Membu to the Colts
  • Jihad Campbell to the Falcons

• McIntyre discusses the influence of the NIL (Name, Image, Likeness) model on the draft, favoring stability and strong ownership over immediate star power:

  "With the NIL model... I would much rather go to a stable ownership group. All this short-term money, it doesn't matter as much anymore, at least for quarterbacks."
  [42:11]

4.3. Guest Insights from Joel Klatt

• Joel Klatt provides nuanced perspectives on player evaluations, emphasizing traits over college statistics:

  "You've got to project from college systems into the NFL... he can create his own space, and that's difficult to do."
  [36:19]

• Klatt highlights the importance of organizational fit and coaching, particularly for players like Shadour Sanders:

  "The only head coach he's known is Coach Prime... playing for Mike Tomlin would be highly attractive for the Sanders camp."
  [39:10]

• Discussing Abdul Carter, Klatt praises his potential as a superior edge rusher compared to established players:

  "As a pure edge rusher, I think Abdul Carter is better... he can play and make your team better."
  [40:35]

4.4. Final Thoughts

• McIntyre and Klatt concur that this draft lacks standout quarterback talent compared to previous years, positioning players like Shadour Sanders as potential saviors rather than generational talents.

• The discussion underscores a broader theme of the draft year being "starless," with teams prioritizing depth, versatility, and long-term stability over immediate star production.

5. Additional Discussions and Insights

Timestamp: [07:16] – [21:10], [50:00] – [49:56]

Throughout the episode, Colin Cowherd and Jason McIntyre intersperse their main discussions with insights into various sports topics, including player performances, team strategies, and the evolving landscape of collegiate athletics. Notable moments include:

• McIntyre reflects on historical draft drops, comparing current prospects to legends like Dan Marino and Aaron Rodgers:

  "Dan Marino and Aaron Rodgers famously dropped in the draft and they got Green Bay and Don Shula with NIL money."
  [38:32]

• Klatt emphasizes character and work ethic, citing Ameca Buka's commitment to mentoring younger players at Ohio State as a key reason for his high draft stock:

  "He wanted to make sure that Jeremiah Smith had a connection to the lineage of the brotherhood... he understood the links in that chain and wanted to stay back and mentor."
  [36:19]

• The hosts discuss how the transactional nature of college football, influenced by the transfer portal and NIL, impacts player evaluations and draft decisions:

  "College football becomes more transactional around transfer portal and NIL... a lot of them make a lot of money in college football."
  [44:02]

6. Conclusion

The Herd with Colin Cowherd – Best of The Herd delivers an engaging and detailed exploration of the current sports landscape. From the strategic intricacies of the NBA playoffs to the speculative excitement of the NFL draft, Colin Cowherd and Jason McIntyre, along with expert guest Joel Klatt, provide listeners with comprehensive analyses and thought-provoking opinions. This episode stands out as a valuable resource for those seeking to stay informed and entertained by the latest in sports.

Notable Quotes:

• Jason McIntyre on the Rockets' unexpected performance:

  “We thought Houston would win. We said they couldn’t play worse. Take Houston yesterday on the show, easy winner, easy winner.”
  [03:00]

• Colin Cowherd on NBA officiating:

  “The NBA officials are swallowing the whistle whistles. It is the lowest free throw rate in NBA playoff history.”
  [06:00]

• McIntyre on Shadour Sanders:

  “I would rather go to Pittsburgh at 21 than Cleveland or the Giants with a second or third pick.”
  [41:00]

• Joel Klatt on Ameca Buka’s character:

  “He wanted to make sure that Jeremiah Smith had a connection to the lineage of the brotherhood... he understood the links in that chain and wanted to stay back and mentor.”
  [36:19]

• McIntyre on the NIL model's impact:

  “With the NIL model... I would much rather go to a stable ownership group. All this short-term money, it doesn’t matter as much anymore, at least for quarterbacks.”
  [42:11]

Note: This summary excludes advertisements, intros, outros, and non-content segments to focus solely on the core discussions within the episode.